Kalaupapa with Dennis Kamakahi + Stephen Inglis | Hana Hou! Magazine

I had such a lovely time following slack key musicians Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis for this Hana Hou! Magazine cover story to the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa, Molokai, a former leprosy colony at the base of the some of the highest sea cliffs in the world. The Hawaiian slack key guitar masters recently compiled a CD together, Waimaka Helelei, about the patients and residents of Kalaupapa, Molokai and the musical legacy there. Both Stephen and Dennis had close ties to Kalaupapa through family and friends and this trip was a homecoming of sorts. It was also really special being there for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration, she cared many years for Hansen's Disease patients in Kalaupapa and was recently named a Saint. Read about our trip and more at Hana Hou! The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines.

Reverend Dennis Kamakahi talks with a nun, while patients, nurses, and choir people enjoy the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration at St Elizabeth Church in Kalaupapa, Molokai.

Dennis Kamakahi looks out at Siloama Church in Kalawao

Dennis Kamakahi and Patrick Landeza during mass at St. Francis Church

A priest, nun, and choir people sing hymns during a procession at Bishop House for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration.

Dennis and Stephen walk through the streets of Kalaupapa

Dennis Kamakahi walks through the Siloama church grounds in Kalawao

Two nuns lei each other during a procession at Bishop House for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration

Slack Key Musicians Patrick Landeza, Dennis Kamakahi, and Stephen Inglis, play outside before their concert in Kalaupapa.

Dennis Kamakahi, Stephen Inglis, and Patrick Landeza play for the people of Kalaupapa at McVeigh Hall

Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis pays their respects to friends/family Bernard Punikaia, and Kamakahi's cousin Henry's grave at a cemetery in Kalaupapa

Talking story in front of the Leprosy Care Home

Taking in the beautiful view in Kalawao, Molokai

Dennis, Stephen, and Patrick tune and play their guitars outside of the Kalaupapa Visitors Quarters

Stephen and Dennis play guitar in their room at the historic leprosy Visitors Quarters before playing a concert for the residents later that night.

Dennis Kamakahi, residents and friends of Kalaupapa sing hymns during the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration at St Elizabeth Church

Stephen and Dennis walk through a cemetery in Kalawao

Derek Ferrar, awesome writer and partner in crime on this Hana Hou! story

Molokai with Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis | Hana Hou! Magazine

Last year I traveled to the island of Molokai for Hana Hou! Magazine with Slack Key Masters Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis, as they visited the isolated village of Kalaupapa and played a concert of their new musical compilation about Kalaupapa for some of the last remaining leprosy patients and residents. Then we headed up to topside molokai, they played a concert at the Hotel Molokai and we drove around beautiful sites of the island and visited old friends. It was a wonderful time, I'll be sharing about the trip in a few posts, check back to see photos from Kalaupapa and to see the final spread in Hana Hou! the Hawaiian Airlines Magazine.

Dennis Kamakahi proudly by his street sign

Stephen Inglis at the Saint Damien Church

Dennis and Stephen

Dennis looks out over Halawa Valley

Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis in the forest at the Kalaupapa Overlook

Slack Key masters Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis play a concert at the Hotel Molokai

The crowd at Hotel Molokai

Sharing a laugh at lunch at the Hotel Molokai

Dennis hugs his cousin during a surprise visit to her house

goat

Topside Molokai

Flying above the deep blue

Father Damien

Stephen enjoying the sunset

Dennis

Dennis heading into Saint Damien Church

Saint Damien Church in Kamalo, Molokai

Makapu'u beach drawing

Pacific Northwest Trip Drawings

Hiking in the Chugach Mountains, Alaska
I took a trip this past fall visiting dear friends along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, hitting California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. It was a fantastic time with many photos yet to be shared. I drew a picture of each place, of my fondest scenic memory. It's a great pleasure to take the time and use your memory and imagination to recreate some of your own special moments the way a camera never could.

Hike to Snow Lake, Washington

Day at the Beach, Santa Barbara, California

Hike to Ponytail Falls, Oregon

Molokai Hula Girls

Na Pua Kukui Hula Halau dances at a slack key concert at the Hotel Molokai.

Sights of 2012

I've seen a lot of amazing sights this past year, feeling blessed and excited for what's to come in 2013. Just got home from a holiday trip to the mainland, reflecting on the year and looking through photos, I wanted to share a random assortment of some beauty seen in 2012.

Adventures with Naleah & Kyla

Heartland, Iowa

Hike to Snow Lake

Wallace, Alaska

Underwater Makaha

Spitting Caves

Fresh Snow

Kaimana Sunset Swim

Makua Wild Dolphins

Road to Kona

Diamond Head Drive-by

Wild Horses, Waipio Valley

Waimanalo